Branding in the western world became prominent in the late 19th and early 20th century, where the owners of cattle ranches marked their stock to tell them apart from the stock of others.
This separating of one's product from another's is the underlying theory behind the branding of bands, businesses, products, etc. In today's national and international markets brand identity is possibly the most important marketing consideration after the product itself.
"A product is something made in a factory; a brand is something that is bought by the customer. A product can be copied by a competitor; a brand is unique. A product can be quickly outdated; a successful brand is timeless"
Stephen King
The brand, or at least part of it, will usually be the first experience a client has of whatever it is you are trying to sell. The importance of strong and relevant branding cannot be stressed enough.
